- December 15, 2024
- 10:18 pm
- Ukraine
For the first time since the beginning of a full-scale war in Ukraine, an international academic forum was held in Uzhgorod from December 11 to 13, 2024 “Ukrainian-Hungarian dialogue on World War II and the Holocaust”.
This landmark scientific forum brought together representatives of the Ukrainian, Hungarian and American scientific communities to discuss the most painful pages of history.
Among them – the tragedy of the Beregovo ghetto, the mass deportations of Jews and the untold testimonies of survivors.
The Beregovo ghetto, located in Transcarpathia, became a symbol of the horror and pain of the Holocaust. In 1944, in this small town, thousands of Jews were forcibly imprisoned in terrible conditions and later deported to Auschwitz. This episode became one of the key themes of the forum, highlighting the importance of studying such tragedies to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Goals and participants of the forum
The event was organized by the Department of Archaeology, Ethnology and Cultural Studies, Faculty of History and International Relations Uzhgorod National Universitywith the support of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Central European Strategy and the public organization “Moment of Sociality”.
Among the participants:
- Tomasz StorkDoslіdnytskyi Center for the Humanities HUN-REN (Budapest, Hungary).
- John SwansonProfessor of History, University of Tennessee, USA.
- Geza JesenskiProfessor Emeritus of Corvinus University and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary.
The purpose of the conference was to establish a professional dialogue between scientists, develop cooperation and implement new research projects.
Beregovo ghetto: a tragedy that must be heard
Particular attention at the forum was paid to the Beregovo ghetto, where in May 1944 more than 12 thousand Jews were deprived of their freedom and later sent to death camps. The history of this place illustrates the extreme violence and cruelty that the Jews of Transcarpathia faced.
The topic of the Beregovo ghetto is important not only for historians, but also for everyone who fights to preserve the memory of the Holocaust. As Dr. John Swanson noted:
“The history of such places is not only a testament to the past, but also a reminder of the need to be vigilant so that this never happens again.”
Conference opening and key statements
On December 11, the grand opening of the forum took place at the Uzhgorod National University. The vice-rector of the university, Miroslava Lengyel, delivered a welcoming speech, emphasizing the importance of European values and tolerance for the joint study of complex pages of history:
“The Holocaust is a terrible page in our common history. By discussing it, we are looking for historical truth and lessons for the future.”
Dr. Tomas Stork from Hungary expressed solidarity with Ukraine:
“Even though my country does not officially support Ukraine, we scientists are here to show that solidarity exists.”
Ukrainian writer and researcher Andrey Lyubka raised the question of the need for international condemnation of totalitarian regimes:
“There was no trial of the communist occupation, and perhaps that is why we are seeing aggression again today.”
Thematic panels and discussions
The forum program included panel discussions dedicated to:
- Deportation of Jews from the Beregovo ghetto — history, evidence and study of archival data.
- History of Hungary in World War II — the role of the Hungarian authorities and awareness of responsibility.
- The Holocaust as a global phenomenon — connections between regional and global memory.
One of the panels also touched upon the topic of cultural heritage preservation. It was emphasized that supporting the memory of the Holocaust strengthens ties between peoples.
The connection between Israel and Ukraine: a general view of history
For the Jewish people, the Beregovo ghetto became another painful reminder of the tragedy of the Holocaust. Today, many Jews whose families suffered in this ghetto live in Israel. Discussion of such topics is important not only for Ukraine and Hungary, but also for Israel, where the memory of the victims of the Holocaust remains an integral part of the national identity.
Website “NAnews — Israel News” regularly covers topics related to Ukrainian-Jewish cooperation, emphasizing the importance of studying history to strengthen mutual understanding between peoples.
Forum results
The International Academic Forum in Uzhgorod became a unique event that brought together scientists to study complex issues of the past. Attention to topics such as the tragedy of the Beregovo ghetto demonstrates that the memory of the Holocaust is alive, and the lessons of history are in demand.
Preserving the memory of the victims of totalitarian regimes is not only a matter of history, but also a moral responsibility of each of us. As the forum participants emphasized, only through dialogue and learning can we build a world free of hatred and violence.
This forum was another step towards preserving historical memory and strengthening cultural ties between Ukraine, Hungary and Israel.
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